Compare towns
Brookline vs Durham vs Stratham vs Hollis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hollis has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Brookline | Durham | Stratham | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
15,080Highest |
7,754 |
8,603 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
| Hollis and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
21%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hollis and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
57.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$168,883±$22k 71% above NH |
| Brookline and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hollis and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
| Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781Lowest 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hollis and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #23 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.